A Mother's Love

It's hard to describe what characteristics make a great mom, but one that is undeniable is love. Every great mother in history has had a self-sacrificing love for their child. This love can manifest itself in many different ways and the really great mothers find the ways to show love in the exact ways their children need it most. This is how my mom showed me her love. 

When I was first diagnosed with diabetes, I was too ignorant to be scared. However, as my mother and I attended countless doctors appointments, it became clear I was in way over my 7 year old head. I was terrified that I would eat the wrong thing or forget to give myself a shot and it would all be over. Eating lunch at school was the scariest part of my day. There was no one there to help me make sure I was doing everything right. So what did my mom do?  She came up to school every single day and had lunch with me. To many kids in school this would have been a nightmare, but it made me feel safe and loved. Call me a mommas boy. I'm ok with that. 

Not long after that, I started to hear stories of diabetic kids who would have low blood sugars in the middle of the night and die in their sleep. Obviously this didn't happen often but I was young and didn't know any better and was once again terrified. At some point, I told my mom about this fear I had. So what did my mom do?  She started waking up at 3 every morning to test my blood sugar and make sure I was alright. She did this every night, without waking me up. For years. Maybe this makes me a mommas boy, but I'm ok with that. 

More recently, my doctor asked me to make some pretty dramatic changes tiny diet including cutting out wheat products. Three of my favorite foods are pizza, doughnuts, and toast. This was not an easy request. When I told my mom, who had already made these changes in her own diet, she took me to the grocery store and helped me restock my house with foods that I could eat. This probably makes me a mommas boy. I'm ok with that. 

To this day, I have lunch with my mom at least twice a week. Anytime I don't know what to do in an uncertain situation, I call my mom and she knows what to do or at least how to find out what to do.  My mom has always been there for me and offered whatever I needed at the time. I couldn't ask for anymore, but even if I did I'm sure she would do everything in her power to provide it. I'm definitely a mommas boy. And I'm ok with that.